Show of shame: Actors fight over Dame Jonathans’ N3m

The recent visit of First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan to Enugu has
left a big scar on Nollywood. This is because the police in Enugu are
currently looking for ways to settle the bitter feud that engulfed the
artistes’ community in the state over how an alleged First Lady’s
largesse would be shared among top actors who at­tended her rally.

This feud has seemingly put one group known as Nollywood Apostles
against other stakeholders in Enugu State led by Patience Ozo­kwor
popularly known as Mama G, making it very difficult for the center to
hold.<br />

As at last Thursday, some of Nollywood’s big wigs involved were still
 angry and had refused to show up at the Police Area Com­mand, Abakpa
Nike, Enugu where the case was domiciled. The Area Commander had
arranged for them to settle the matter amicably.<br />

Checks reveal that Nollywood Apostles comprising some of the best
faces in the movie industry including Steve Ajebo Eboh, Charles Awurum,
Emeka Enyiocha, Bene­dict Johnson, Chinwe Owoh, and Ngozi Ezeonu among
others had been featuring at several PDP campaign rallies including the
one that brought Dame Jonathan to Enugu.<br />

According to a source, trouble started after the departure of the
First Lady when facilitators of the rally, Patience Ozokwor and Chinyere
 Wilfred were on stage giving the vote of thanks. An aide to Dame
Jona­than had allegedly dropped a parcel contain­ing N3 million into the
 hands of one of the actors, which he quickly cornered with the
con­nivance of his fellow ‘Apos­tles’. But the cookies crumbled when the
 aide called Mama G aside and intimated her of the monetary gift and to
whom it was handed.<br />

“The real drama started when the actor who collected the parcel was
about to zoom out of the venue in his car. Mama G re-enacted her screen
roles for real. In her view, the money was meant for all the
stakehold­ers who graced the rally and not only for the Nollywood
Apostles. Mama G stood in the way of the car, yelling and ask­ing to be
crushed just as she sent someone to call the police. She didn’t mind
being called <em>witch, ashawo </em>and all sorts of unprint­able names.
 She blocked the car until the police came and took all the parties to
the station,” a source says.<br />

However, Steve Eboh has denied ever being involved in such a show of
shame. He told Entertain­er: “I never had anything to do with any money
or anything like that. Don’t mind them, my brother. As I speak with you
now, I am on my way to see Father Ede in Elele, Rivers State.”<br />

For Charles Awurum, who later returned this reporter’s call after
several phone calls made to him, it was denial all the way. Hear him: “I
 don’t know about any issues concerning Dame Jonathan’s money. I am in
Port Harcourt now, please.”<br />

On her part, Patience Ozokwor confirmed the story but she wouldn’t
want to elaborate further, until after the elections. “The police have
invited everyone to the station for settlement,” she volunteered.
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